UK Police helicopter budget cuts
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I noticed that the thread was slowing a little and apart from 'PHIL' there isn't much going on. So I thought I'd have a look on Face-book (fb) and twit-ter. It appears a number of forces are now 'Tweeting' as to what their aircraft have been up to on a daily basis, to add to that it is understood that some forces are actively encouraging officers and units to have Face-book pages.
So I had a look on fb, 9 people 'like' NPIA on fb but nothing on NPAS.
On twit-ter, NPIA have been slapping themselves on the back since 5th Jan this year but nothing for NPAS.
Whether we like it or not it appears to be the future with great buzz words like 'transparency' 'openess' and 'Needs, Fears and expectations'
Maybe NPAS need a fb home page and we could all see what is going on and comment in an open forum or we can hide in the shadows and poke it with a stick. NPAS could use it to keep us and the population in the picture. Hey its just a thought, I'm sure you all have your own opinions.......
Whatever happens, in the future, someone will be busy 'tweetbooking' what we've been up to!
(Had to do Face-book and twit-ter like that as it came up as facepprune!)
So I had a look on fb, 9 people 'like' NPIA on fb but nothing on NPAS.
On twit-ter, NPIA have been slapping themselves on the back since 5th Jan this year but nothing for NPAS.
Whether we like it or not it appears to be the future with great buzz words like 'transparency' 'openess' and 'Needs, Fears and expectations'
Maybe NPAS need a fb home page and we could all see what is going on and comment in an open forum or we can hide in the shadows and poke it with a stick. NPAS could use it to keep us and the population in the picture. Hey its just a thought, I'm sure you all have your own opinions.......
Whatever happens, in the future, someone will be busy 'tweetbooking' what we've been up to!
(Had to do Face-book and twit-ter like that as it came up as facepprune!)
Join Date: Nov 2010
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135 police spare parts anyone?
Night training 135 hard landing. Cabin stood up well, I wonder how the driver and passengers backs coped with the collapsing seats inside?
I know most uk police forces dont insure their road vehicles with any companies and cover the various accident costs inhouse, but do with their a/c.
This might be an expensive inhouse police repair bill for the Czech police.
Czech Police EC135 damaged in night training flight | Helihub - the Helicopter Industry Data Source
I know most uk police forces dont insure their road vehicles with any companies and cover the various accident costs inhouse, but do with their a/c.
This might be an expensive inhouse police repair bill for the Czech police.
Czech Police EC135 damaged in night training flight | Helihub - the Helicopter Industry Data Source
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I know most uk police forces dont insure their road vehicles with any companies and cover the various accident costs inhouse, but do with their a/c.
are you related to phil. Another muppet who ain't got a clue what he's going on about. Thought this thread was going to be ok now space cadet has gone.
I think thats testament to the 135 the cab is in perfect condition
I wonder how the driver and passengers backs coped with the collapsing seats inside?
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this looks interesting, could this be heading for a skyquest competition
A&CS receives order for airborne mission computer from Metropolitan Police
A&CS receives order for airborne mission computer from Metropolitan Police
AC&S Ltd, an aerospace consulting and services company based in the north west of England have received an order from the Metropolitan Police for a number of mission computer and symbol generators for use in their EC145 helicopters.
The Mission Computer and Symbol Generator (MCSG) is an extensible mini PC for use in non-essential airborne operations. It works with Microsoft Windows® embedded Operating Systems and may have optional applications such as image processing software for airborne or similar missions added to it.
The MCSG was developed to address the demand for integrating existing typical aircraft systems which traditionally are installed as separately switched systems which do not integrate.
It is capable of integrating with numerous existing product systems such as GPS or camera feeds, and acts to integrate these systems to expand their abilities and increase utilisation.
The MCSG is no ordinary ruggedized unit. It has been especially developed for mission systems both in Rotary and Fixed Wing sectors.
The basic specification includes a fanless Solid State hard drive and Mil Spec connectors to address vibration and handling issues. It is currently DO160 tested for vibration, dust and shock. However, the MCSG also features user specified connectivity as requested by customers including RS232/422, multiple Mil Spec USB and PS/2 ports for connections to Keyboards, Tracker ball, Mouse, VDU, flash drives, etc.
The Mission Computer and Symbol Generator (MCSG) is an extensible mini PC for use in non-essential airborne operations. It works with Microsoft Windows® embedded Operating Systems and may have optional applications such as image processing software for airborne or similar missions added to it.
The MCSG was developed to address the demand for integrating existing typical aircraft systems which traditionally are installed as separately switched systems which do not integrate.
It is capable of integrating with numerous existing product systems such as GPS or camera feeds, and acts to integrate these systems to expand their abilities and increase utilisation.
The MCSG is no ordinary ruggedized unit. It has been especially developed for mission systems both in Rotary and Fixed Wing sectors.
The basic specification includes a fanless Solid State hard drive and Mil Spec connectors to address vibration and handling issues. It is currently DO160 tested for vibration, dust and shock. However, the MCSG also features user specified connectivity as requested by customers including RS232/422, multiple Mil Spec USB and PS/2 ports for connections to Keyboards, Tracker ball, Mouse, VDU, flash drives, etc.
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Ow budgie lad I only included what it said about local reports in the helihub article saying that they insured themselves!
I know the UK ASU a/c dont insure themselves.
Did you also notice that I did add that the cab stood up well to the impact?
I asked about their backs as thats one thing most impacts affect, as with ejection seats!
I could go back and remove the bit about the cops not insuring their road vehicles to clear the matter up for you, but whats the point you'll find something else to wibble about. Muppet eh, thats good coming from Budgie the helicopter!
I know the UK ASU a/c dont insure themselves.
Did you also notice that I did add that the cab stood up well to the impact?
I asked about their backs as thats one thing most impacts affect, as with ejection seats!
I could go back and remove the bit about the cops not insuring their road vehicles to clear the matter up for you, but whats the point you'll find something else to wibble about. Muppet eh, thats good coming from Budgie the helicopter!
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I know the UK ASU a/c dont insure themselves.
Don't understand that comment -
Are you saying that UK Police aircraft are not insured, or that they are insured by someone else
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All UK police aircraft are insured by third parties, such as Marsh Aviation Insurance amongst others. One of the many reasons ASU/AOUs are so expensive to run. I know many forces look after accident repair costs to their vehicle fleets in house , but of course are 'insured' for claims to non force vehicles and liabilities to other persons and their property.
It may be that all police aircraft in the UK are insured these days but there is no requirement for the police forces to insure through the commercial sector. That is why the Met Police were always more gung ho and did the job on the streets... they did not have insurance companies breathing down their necks.
Large forces like the Met have a history of not insuring, and the same happens across the world with large operators. The price of helicopters and other capital equipment may have changed the situation.
I am unsure where the Met are these days - individually the aircraft are expensive and a big slice of a budget if the craft are damaged - but there is ample evidence that earlier fleets were not insured. I assume that is why Lynx thought he was on good ground for saying that.
So, are they all now insured by Third parties?
Large forces like the Met have a history of not insuring, and the same happens across the world with large operators. The price of helicopters and other capital equipment may have changed the situation.
I am unsure where the Met are these days - individually the aircraft are expensive and a big slice of a budget if the craft are damaged - but there is ample evidence that earlier fleets were not insured. I assume that is why Lynx thought he was on good ground for saying that.
So, are they all now insured by Third parties?
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I think you'll find all Police Forces are so risk-averse that not to insure their aircraft, most specifically against third party damage, would see them cutting out Air Support completely, before any accidents occurred.
Whilst risk management may dictate two engines, dropping a helicopter into a congested area in the middle of the night, (Cardiff) without insurance, would be regarded as a foolish cost-cutting measure by the local taxpayer, who would have to foot the, not inconsiderable, bill.
I think you'll find that the same third party insurance is in place for other Police vehicles, it's just the damage to the Police cars themselves that won't be covered by insurance.
Whilst risk management may dictate two engines, dropping a helicopter into a congested area in the middle of the night, (Cardiff) without insurance, would be regarded as a foolish cost-cutting measure by the local taxpayer, who would have to foot the, not inconsiderable, bill.
I think you'll find that the same third party insurance is in place for other Police vehicles, it's just the damage to the Police cars themselves that won't be covered by insurance.
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G-nwps
To follow on my previous post earlier on, Heres some pics of the Ex police heli at EGKR
Didn't want to be nosing around with a big SLR so took some photos on my phone so they look a bit rubbish.
And the UH-1 next to it... As a R22 flyer, was shocked at the rotors! There have to be planes with smaller wings....
Didn't want to be nosing around with a big SLR so took some photos on my phone so they look a bit rubbish.
And the UH-1 next to it... As a R22 flyer, was shocked at the rotors! There have to be planes with smaller wings....
We are nearly at 365 days and counting......
A Face book item highlighted by Linked In took my notice this morning.
If you are a thread jumper you may recall the row between Cambridgeshire based 'free' medico group Magpas and East Anglia AA when they moved the [BK117] aircraft to Cambridge Airport, the EAAA CEO leaving, them buying engines to prop up the deal with Sterling... Sterling dropping off the radar... and taking the 117s with them so that EAAA are now in Bolkows....
Good idea for a TV script I hink.... but no-one would believe it....
Anyway despite the row Magpas still exist and fly in the Cambridgeshire MD902 Explorer. That, it is said, has just a year to survive.
And yet this last weekend that same craft and its Magpas medics was over in Norfolk undertaking two 'out of hours' emergency medical flights - the first to take a trained doctor to a burned child. He may subsequently have travelled by land ambulance to Addenbrookes but how else would a doctor from Cambridge get to Norfolk in time? The second was a fatal accident where the survivor was treated to stabilise him and accompany the injured to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, the regions specialist trauma centre.
Overall Magpas seem to be able to lick a finger and signify that they got 'one up' overall in the EAAA row but in a year this out of hours regional facility will go [and of course the police will lose their aircraft without replacemnent..]
OK so its one little element in the wider picture but downsizing overall seems to be just taken as what will happen regardless of the consequences.
It seems clear that there is no real pressure group built up within the pre-NPAS population to get the story out to push for more survivors in this massacre of officer safety equipment .... no pressures on the Police Federation to open their muted mouths in protest.... what a useless organisation that has always been..... and even the death rattle here in Rotorheads appears to be going no-where.
Very sad.
A Face book item highlighted by Linked In took my notice this morning.
If you are a thread jumper you may recall the row between Cambridgeshire based 'free' medico group Magpas and East Anglia AA when they moved the [BK117] aircraft to Cambridge Airport, the EAAA CEO leaving, them buying engines to prop up the deal with Sterling... Sterling dropping off the radar... and taking the 117s with them so that EAAA are now in Bolkows....
Good idea for a TV script I hink.... but no-one would believe it....
Anyway despite the row Magpas still exist and fly in the Cambridgeshire MD902 Explorer. That, it is said, has just a year to survive.
And yet this last weekend that same craft and its Magpas medics was over in Norfolk undertaking two 'out of hours' emergency medical flights - the first to take a trained doctor to a burned child. He may subsequently have travelled by land ambulance to Addenbrookes but how else would a doctor from Cambridge get to Norfolk in time? The second was a fatal accident where the survivor was treated to stabilise him and accompany the injured to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, the regions specialist trauma centre.
Overall Magpas seem to be able to lick a finger and signify that they got 'one up' overall in the EAAA row but in a year this out of hours regional facility will go [and of course the police will lose their aircraft without replacemnent..]
OK so its one little element in the wider picture but downsizing overall seems to be just taken as what will happen regardless of the consequences.
It seems clear that there is no real pressure group built up within the pre-NPAS population to get the story out to push for more survivors in this massacre of officer safety equipment .... no pressures on the Police Federation to open their muted mouths in protest.... what a useless organisation that has always been..... and even the death rattle here in Rotorheads appears to be going no-where.
Very sad.
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It seems that yet again forces don't realise what there units can do for them. If you look at a couple of recent incidents in the press.
The taxi driver shooting. Where the police and paramedics got the blame for not attending quick enough. In a rural area like that it's going to take an age for the ARV crews to get to the scene. If they were co located at an air unit then fly officers in.
The bloke who drove his car into a river killing his daughter. Police had to stand and wait for a dive team to come from god knows where. Fly them in.
Cut down the time we have to wait for the specialist officers by using the fastest piece of kit the police have.
The taxi driver shooting. Where the police and paramedics got the blame for not attending quick enough. In a rural area like that it's going to take an age for the ARV crews to get to the scene. If they were co located at an air unit then fly officers in.
The bloke who drove his car into a river killing his daughter. Police had to stand and wait for a dive team to come from god knows where. Fly them in.
Cut down the time we have to wait for the specialist officers by using the fastest piece of kit the police have.
If they were co located at an air unit then fly officers in.
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The bloke who drove his car into a river killing his daughter. Police had to stand and wait for a dive team to come from god knows where.
They didn't have to wait long for Police Air Support on that job though,
who were on scene searching in case one of the occupants had managed to free themsleves,
and then been washed down river.
Such a task would have been extremely difficult from the ground, even using a boat !
( RIP )
Coconutty
Last edited by Coconutty; 28th Mar 2011 at 14:58. Reason: To add "divers"
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Correct. But the issue raised on the news was that paramedics were not allowed to attend to the persons who had been shot. So each force has a team that can arm and be used to assist the officers. Whilst the ARV's are looking for the offender, the team can be flown to the scene of the shooting and protect the paramedics. That is one place we know he is not, but they just need protection in case he returned
all..................